More than 3,000 Muslims in Illinois prisons, statistics say

The Illinois Department of Corrections says that more than 3,000 Illinois prison inmates are Muslims, although the number could be higher than that.

Doug Finke

The Illinois Department of Corrections says that more than 3,000 Illinois prison inmates are Muslims, although the number could be higher than that.

Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said statistics on inmate religious affiliation are self-reported. Offenders are asked their religious affiliations when they enter the prison system, but they are not required to list anything.

With more than 3,000 inmates saying they are Muslims, the religion has one of the larger followings among inmates. However, it is still dwarfed by the number of inmates who report themselves to be Baptists, Catholics or no religion at all.

Michael C. Finton, who was charged Thursday with the attempted terror bombing of the Paul Findley Federal Building in Springfield, reportedly converted to Islam while in prison, where he had served a sentence for aggravated battery and aggravated robbery.

The Department of Corrections nt does not keep statistics on the number of inmates who convert to a religion while incarcerated. However, Smith said the department takes precautions to ensure that, when an inmate wants to convert to a religion, the person is being sincere.

"The person has to meet with the chaplain and the chaplain would have to determine the person has a sincere belief in the faith," Smith said.

Corrections employs a non-denominational chaplain at each of its facilities. The chaplain ministers to the needs of inmates, Smith said, and determines if more should be provided.

"If he sees the need for religious services of a faith, he will arrange services for that religion or faith. He will recruit someone to oversee the services," she said. Mostly, those are volunteers.

No faith is allowed to have its leaders go through cell blocks proselytizing.

Imam Abdul Haq has worked in both the Vienna and Shawnee correctional centers. Many inmates adopted Islam during the time he worked in the prisons, Haq said.

"Many of them had tried religion in some form or another," Haq said. "They were looking for different answers. Some wanted social justice."

Although religious leaders are not allowed to proselytize in the prisons, inmates can accomplish much the same simply by talking among themselves, said Haq, who himself was a Baptist before becoming a Muslim.

Like other Muslim leaders, Haq said the religion should be distanced from Finton’s alleged actions.

"It's very important for us to make clear that Islam teaches good-minded, moral, accountable people," Haq said. "We are against terrorism in any form. We try as Muslims to stress the similarities (to other religions). Our religion teaches us to find a common ground."

Doug Finke can be reached at 788-1527.

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